What do oven symbols mean

Ovens come with a variety of symbols and icons on their control panels, depending on the manufacturer, with each one indicating different functions and settings. Understanding these symbols can help ensure that your cooking endeavours are successful and, thanks to this comprehensive guide by Smeg, you’ll feel like a cooking pro in no time.

 Bottom Heater Only Symbol 

This symbol, often displayed as a straight or curved line at the bottom of the symbol, indicates the cooking mode where the heat comes solely from the bottom of the oven. This is perfect for foods such as pizza, where you want the base crispier compared to the toppings. 

 Top and Bottom Heating Symbol 

This symbol, which is usually presented as a straight or curved line at the top and bottom of the symbol, represents the convection cooking mode. Both the top and bottom of the oven are heated without a fan, meaning the hot air cooks the food thoroughly - perfect for roasting meats.

Grill-Only Symbol 

This symbol is for the grill-only function, where heat is produced by the entire grill element of the oven - perfect for sizzling sausages or bacon. This symbol is often presented as zigzag lines or a dotted curved line at the top of the symbol. 
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 Fan-Only Symbol 

This function, displayed as a fan symbol, represents the thermostat and fan elements of the oven where heat is produced from the circular element at the back of the oven, circulated by the fan. This is one of the most commonly used functions so it is likely that you’re very familiar with this symbol and what it means.

 Fan with Half-Grill Symbol 

This function, which involves the slow-grilling of a wide range of foods using the fan to assist the grill (but only half), is displayed as a fan symbol with a curved dotted line or zigzag lines above. 

 Fan with Upper and Lower Heating Symbol 

This symbol represents the function where the fan evenly spreads heat from both the top and bottom heaters. The symbol is presented as a fan with a curved line above and below it. 

Fan-Assisted Defrost Symbol 

This symbol is often represented by an image of a snowflake that’s dripping, illustrating the defrosting process. The function uses cool circulating air generated using the oven fan to defrost the frozen food within the oven chamber. 

 Circulaire Heating Only Symbol 

The “circulaire” heating-only function, displayed as a fan within a circle symbol, allows you to cook a variety of different foods simultaneously without the risk of blending different flavours together. This function also means you don’t need to preheat the oven. 
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 Microwave Symbol 

Some ovens come with the option to microwave foods within the oven chamber, thawing and heating food perfectly without altering its appearance, smell or taste. This function is usually displayed through a symbol that involves 3 wavy lines, parallel to the usual microwave symbol you’d see elsewhere. 
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 Microwave With Grill Symbol 

This setting combines the microwave and grill functions together, quickly microwaving foods and then browning them using the grill to achieve the finished dish. This symbol is often presented using the 3 wavy microwave lines and a curved dotted line above.

 Steam Symbol 

Some ovens come with the option to steam foods within the oven chamber, a healthy way of cooking that preserves the nutritional and organoleptic properties of the ingredients. This function is usually displayed through a symbol that resembles a cloud or a wavy line.
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 Pizza Symbol 

This symbol, featuring an image of a pizza, represents the pizza cooking function which is optimised to cook a pizza in just 5 minutes, depending on the toppings (other manufacturers may vary). This setting isn’t just constrained to pizzas, however, as it can also be used to effectively cook pies, fish or cookies, for example.
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 Oven Light Symbol 

This symbol, usually represented by a simple lightbulb, is used for the oven light function. Ovens that have this function give you the option to turn your oven light on even when the oven is not in use, allowing you to look inside for dirt and other food residue.

Reheat Symbol 

This function is designed to bring back the original taste of cooked food that has been safely stored in the fridge. The symbol usually shows a dish with 3 wavy lines coming from it, representing the reheated food.

 Electronic Control Symbol 

If you’re cooking meals requiring a great deal of control over the temperature, such as for delicate puddings, the electronic control symbol is the ideal function. This is often displayed as the °C symbol, representing the temperature measure being controlled. 

Eco-Logic Symbol 

If you’re looking for greater control over the amount of energy your oven produces, the Eco-Logic symbol is ideal. This function limits the amount of energy that your appliance draws from its power source, making it much more energy efficient.

Minute-Minder Symbol

This symbol, often displayed as a clock, allows you to set a time limit for your desired cooking time frame, alerting you when the cooking process has been completed. This will automatically switch off the cooking mode when the time is complete. 

Alarm Symbol

This symbol, displayed as a bell, acts as an audible alarm for when your cooking is complete, alerting you that it's time to turn the oven off to avoid overcooking and wasted energy. It is important to note that, unlike the minute minder, this function just acts as an alert, rather than switching off automatically.

 Pyrolytic Cleaning “P” Symbol 

This symbol, often displayed as the letter P, indicates the pyrolytic self-cleaning mode. The pyrolytic process burns off food residue within the oven cavity using extreme heat, turning it to ash. This symbol can often be displayed as 9 circles, in a 3x3 format, with the circles growing in size as they go upwards. Some ovens offer an eco-pyrolytic function, with the word “ECO” above the P symbol.
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Steam Clean Symbol 

Another symbol which indicates a self-cleaning mode is the steam-clean function (often known as VaporClean), which uses steam to loosen food residue in the oven cavity, making it easy to wipe away once the process has finished. This symbol is often presented as 5 water droplets but may vary depending on the manufacturer.
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It is important to note that you should always follow the instructions that come with your specific oven model, to ensure that you are safe at all times when using large appliances. 

Child Lock Symbol 

Some ovens are equipped with a “Child Lock” feature to ensure that, once the oven cycle has started, children cannot tamper with the cooking settings. This feature is often displayed as a padlock or key symbol, making it an easy one to remember. 

Residual Heat Warning Symbol

This symbol, often displayed as a thermometer, indicates the residual heat warning, alerting you when the oven’s surface is still hot even after cooking has been completed.

Through our ovens by Smeg, we offer a range of different functions so you can be creative at meal times. In need of inspiration? Check out our range of authentic recipes to get started on new, tasty masterpieces at home.

What should I do if I can't find the symbol for a particular function on my oven?

Refer to the user manual provided with your oven. It should have a comprehensive guide to all the symbols and functions specific to your model.

What does it mean if the oven symbol is flashing?

Flashing symbols often indicate that the oven is preheating or that a cooking cycle is in progress. Refer to your user manual to interpret specific flashing symbols.

What should I do if I accidentally activate the wrong oven function?

Most ovens have a cancel or stop button that allows you to terminate the current cooking cycle. If you're unsure, consult your user manual for instructions on how to cancel a cooking program.

Are there any safety precautions I should take when using certain oven symbols?

Yes - particularly when using functions like pyrolytic cleaning or high-temperature modes. Ensure proper ventilation and follow all safety guidelines provided by the manufacturer to prevent accidents or injuries.